Charges brought in Kampot abuse case

A WOMAN accused of beating her 16-year-old niece in Kampot province was placed in pretrial detention on Wednesday after being charged with intentional battery, a police official said.

In Chiva, provincial deputy police chief, said Wednesday that he had questioned the suspect on Tuesday and detained her overnight before sending her to the provincial court Wednesday morning.

“We have enough evidence, both wounds on the girl’s body and eyewitnesses, and she also admitted her guilt, so I decided to arrest her and send her to the court,” he said.

The girl was removed from her aunt’s custody on June 15 after neighbours told police and officials at the rights group Adhoc that she had been subjected to abuse for around six years. Officials said they found more than 20 wounds on the girl’s body, some of them fresh.

Sim Sorphea, head of Adhoc’s women’s rights programme in Kampot, said Wednesday she was pleased that the woman had been charged, and that Adhoc would provide legal support for the victim.

“I will find a lawyer for the girl on Thursday,” she said.

In Chiva said the court had not announced a trial date. Provincial court prosecutor Chhum Samban could not be reached for comment Wednesday.